The Beartooths were lovely the day we went up and over "the top" to poke around.   Wasn't sure how the mountain scenery would play out with the amount of smoke we left in the valley but as you can see it wasn't too bad on the photos (although look close enough and you can see the brown haze).   I think though that even with all the big scenery my Mom will remember most the 25+ chipmunks we found at the vista point early that morning - begging food off anyone and everyone.  Even resorting to running up the legs of young yuppies eating breakfast out of the back of their car.  Cuter than snot but fast too okay and totally habituated to the humans stopping there.  Was fun to watch them (and share a couple roasted soybeans)!   My Mom remembered how we used to see them begging food at Mt. Rushmore "back in the day" (read 40 years ago).

I did get a reminder as I was taking scenery shots that yes, even though morning and evening light is best, when you have this many mountains you are winding through, shadows are a challenge during those hours.   The one lake basin you will see a couple of times as I stopped on the way up and the way back when the sun was up higher. 

You can see part of the snaking road on the right.   I am amazed every time I drive this at the engineers that laid it out and the people that built it.  Amazing....

Beartooth Lake

We took a number of back roads and explored a bit and found a spot where we could stop and let the dogs out to run a bit over by Lily Lake.  I wish I had taken some video of Louie who was running around leaping over logs and smelling things with total abandon.   Alas keeping an eye on all of them and making sure no one wandered off during our brief stop only allowed me these two shots (because the theory that they'll all stay in their "pack" is totally a myth - haha).   Epic's ears pretty much tell it all.